By Andrea Begnini
Steve’s is an Italian innovative startup, founded by siblings Filippo and Giulia Gandini, that has quickly gained attention in the sustainable fashion industry thanks to a clear vision and a focus on ecology. In less than a year and a half of operation, the brand has sold hundreds of pairs of sneakers, aiming to create high-quality, low-impact footwear made from innovative and sustainable materials such as AppleSkin bio-leather and upcycled velvet. Steve’s has embarked on important collaborations such as with Azimut Yachts and has launched a crowdfunding campaign to support its expansion, with the goal of becoming a benchmark for sustainable Made in Italy in the footwear world.
Collaborations, expansion into new markets, and a crowdfunding
Steve’s, the young Italian startup founded by siblings Filippo and Giulia Gandini, is a business project strongly focused on sustainability declined in an artisanal way and integrated with technological innovation. An approach that has also made it the protagonist of prestigious collaborations. Prominent among these is the agreement with Azimut Yachts, the well-known Italian luxury yacht manufacturer, which chose Steve’s to supply and customize sneakers for its yachts. This partnership combines nautical luxury with sustainable innovation, consolidating Steve’s as a brand capable of meeting the needs of a demanding public, attentive not only to design and quality, but also to the environmental impact of the products they choose.
To support its expansion, Steve’s recently launched a crowdfunding campaign on Mamacrowd, with the goal of raising financial resources and engaging partners who share the vision of a green future for the fashion industry. This project is a milestone for the startup, which aspires not only to consolidate in Italy, but also to make its entry into new international markets. Northern Europe, with its focus on sustainability, and Asia, where Made in Italy is a symbol of quality and status, represent the next frontiers for a brand that wants to bring sustainability to the center of global fashion.
Sustainable sneakers, from the upper to the seams
Steve’s sneakers are a symbol of innovation and sustainability, the result of careful research to select materials that respect the environment and minimize environmental impact. Every element is designed to ensure that the final product not only meets the aesthetic and quality demands of the fashion market, but also represents a concrete step toward environmentally friendly production.
The choice of materials was a priority: from the upper made from AppleSkin, a bio-leather derived from apple processing waste, to the laces made from organic cotton, to the stitching made from rPET yarns, obtained from recycled plastic bottles. Every detail of the sneakers reflects Steve’s desire to create a vegan, sustainable and cruelty-free product. Even the sole of the shoes is made of 50 percent recycled materials and is fully recyclable, allowing for a circular life cycle. Steve’s today tells the story of how fashion can evolve toward a more responsible and environmentally friendly model, without sacrificing quality and aesthetics.
AppleSkin: the sustainable bio-skin
Among the distinctive materials chosen by Steve’s, AppleSkin is an innovative bio-leather developed in South Tyrol, Italy, which uses apple processing waste-such as peels and cores-transforming it into a cruelty-free alternative to traditional leather. AppleSkin’s production process focuses on a circular economy: apple scraps are dried, reduced to a powder and then mixed with polyurethane and applied to a cotton or polyester textile backing. This versatile material has a reduced environmental impact compared to conventional synthetic leather, helping tosave significant amounts of CO₂.
AppleSkin maintains the look and feel of natural leather, making it ideal for creating high-quality footwear. The versatility of the material, available in different textures and colors, has made it popular in the fashion industry, where it is used not only for shoes but also for bags and accessories. Several Italian brands have chosen it for their collections, helping to reduce the use of animal resources and promoting an environmentally friendly alternative for the future of fashion.
Recycled TPU, upcycled velvet and rPET yarns: Steve’s circular approach
Steve’s also adopts recycled TPU for the sneaker soles, a durable and flexible material made by recycling polyurethane-based products. This material provides exceptional durability while maintaining flexibility and lightness. The recycling process involves collecting and shredding TPU waste, which is then melted down to make a new material that retains its original characteristics, reducing the need for raw materials and energy consumption.
An additional sustainable element is rPET yarns, derived from recycled plastic bottles, which are used in the seams of the sneakers. In addition to being extremely durable, this material reduces plastic waste and the consumption of fossil resources needed to produce new polyester fabrics. Yarns made from rPET are water repellent and dry quickly, offering a practical and environmentally friendly solution.
The upcycled velvet, on the other hand, is a velvet fabric made from waste or surplus materials from the textile industry, which are recovered and reused to give rise to new products. Instead of producing velvet from scratch, fabric scraps that would otherwise have been disposed of are recovered and transformed into new usable materials. This “upcycling” process reduces the consumption of natural resources and the environmental impact associated with fabric production, while also reducing waste.
